Shipbucket

Have you in mind a MRAP vehicle of Greek origin for your AU nation?

Please, I prefer the term "Hellenic" for this AU just for personal reasons.

Actually the Tiger Armoured Vehicle (page 29) does have some MRAP capability, due to its V-shaped hull. For full MRAP, yes, I have something in my mind. But is not ready yet to post. Perhaps it will be something like the US Cougar, based on modified Steyr/ELBO chassis.

Perhaps the most famous of RHN ship classes is the "Conon Class", which was the first post war indigenous surface units. Developed in early 1950's from Atelies Helleniques et Chantier Naval Basiliades in Piraeus, the lead unit of the class was launched in 7 November 1956 under a ceremony with music from Royal Hellenic Navy Band. Godmother was the 7-years old Princess Irene, but the curious thing was that the name of the ship was "Antalcidas", because Conon of Athens was considered a controversial personality. However, because of the great puplicity of the design from the press of the era the name "Conon" (as this was the name planned from the lead ship) name stack with these ships and still follows them.

Total number of Short Hull Mk1 design built was 12 from 1956 to 1962 by two shipyards, of which four units were built for the Hellenic Coast Guard (as the previous "Harbour Corps" force was renamed in 1960) as Zeus Class Mk1 Long Range Patrol Vessel. In 1969-1972 six units were modernised with new sonar, SAM, surface to surface missiles and helipad. All these decommisioned in 1988-1990 and some were converted to minelayers. The historic "F 201 Antalcidas" became a museum ship in Faliro, alongside CA Averoff in 1994, were she went under its own power from Souda Naval Base.

Specifications

*Length : 93.3m
*Beam : 11.2m
*Draught (full load) : 3,9m at hull, 5.7m at sonar dome
*Dispacement : 1,320 tons as built and 1370 tons as frigates
1,720 tons full load as built and 1,770 tons as frigates
*Propulsion : CODAD, 4 ADC 16V-630B2, 3000 hp each, turning 2 shafts.
*Speed : 26 knots max, long range cruise 15 knots (with 2 engines working) and fast cruise 20 knots.
*Range : 7800 nm at 15 knots and 3500 nm at 20 knots.
*Complement : 138 (84 in patrol vessels Zeus Mk1)

Armament:

1 X US Ordnance Mk33 twin 3"/50
1 X OTO Breda Dardo 40/L70
2 X RIM-26 Sea Falcon
8 X SSM Adis i (SSM-34A/B)
2 X 3 TT 324mm (6 torpedoes Mk44, Mk46 or TP-2)
2 X M2 Browning HMG 0.5"

Electronics:

Air search radar: Signaal LW-03
Directors : HSA M44 and M45
Navigation radar : MARAC M223
Underwater FCS: Signaal M9
ESM : WLR-1

As FFM (Missile Frigate, Πυραυλοφόρος Φρεγάτα), refers to a frigate armed with surface to surface missiles.

Nice.

Continuing with Conon Class, here is the Mk2:

Differences from above:

Built : 1966-1973, 12 in Hellenic Kingdom plus 2 in Cyprus
Length : 98.5m
Displacement: 1,520/1940 tons
Propulsion :

Speed : 26kn (Mk2A, 29+kn (Mk2B), 30+kn (Mk2C), cruise 15-18kn (diesel)
Range : 8400nm at 16kn (diesel) and 900nm at 27kn
Complement : 152 (84 as patrol vessel)

Armament (differences from Mk1):

(Mk2A): 1 X ASROC Mk16 (8 rounds, no reloads)
(MK2B/C): 1 X Oto Melara 76/62C

Electronics:

1 X Signaal WM-24 targeting radar
ESM : DARE-S (later Thomson CSF DR3000A)
E/O: ECON Optics Lynceus Mk2C (named from a mythical hero of Hellenic Mythology, famous for his sight-according to the myth, he could see inside trees, land etc. A whole family of hellenic developed E/O sensores features this name under Mk1 to Mk8 versions. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynceus_%28Argonaut%29)

Note 1: The Mk2C features a folding extension of hangar to accomodate the larger PZL-Świdnik Mi-2ASW helicopter* and had 2 X DShK HMG 12.7mm instead of M2 Browning. These are still in service, converted to patrol vessels with all ASW equipment removed. Cyprus received also two Mk2B from RHN for free in 1985, which served until 2003. Latter sunk as target ships during exersices on 2006 and 2010.
Note 2*: Cyprus received totally around 20 Mi-2 helicopters from Poland from 1968 to 1980 under State-to-State Exchange Program. Four were coverted to ASW in SHAF using the equipment of SA-319 Alouette III. They had TP-2 torpedoes, 2.75" and 5" rockets or even AS-12 missiles. Cypriot National Guard (AU) used 12 Mi-2 for transport or even attack missions (using rockets or AT-3 Sagger missiles), rest 4 units were used by Police. The Mi-2 gradually retired from service in early 2000's, last airframes from Police. In real world Cyprus did had Mi-2 (2-3 airframes were used for transport duties in 1980's-1990's).
Note 3*: Black Sea Navy Command had total 8 of Conon Mk2, 4 with ASROC and 4 with Adis I.

Ending with Conon Mk3, which is a completely different design from Mk1/Mk2, despite sharing design name. Also know as "Messimvria Class", this frigate was designed for replacing the old Nearhos Class destroyers in Black Sea. The design is credited to a naval arcitect called Evgenios Alargov from East Rumelia in 1967, has some influence from original 1954 design from Spiros Vasilliades but is more close to US Garcia/Brooke in size. Hre designer studied in Athens Naval University and worked in Atelies Helleniques et Chantier Naval Basiliades in construction for several years. Vasiliades himshelf approved Alargov designs for a large frigate in January 1967, some months before his death from cancer in June.

First four ships built in Messimvria Shipyard (named from the town), with hangar for two Alouette III or HC-270A (also could the the HC-160, some where modified to ASW with Omera ORB-31 radar) and heavy ASW/ASuW armament. Two were AAW variants, with Standard missiles in their ASROC reloader and modified Mk112 GMLS. Interest from Ministry of Defense in Athens was great and Alargov himeshelf took the train from Messimvria to Athens for a demonstration of the design to Hellenic Defence and Security Council. The result was the Salamis Class frigate, which built in Eleusis Shipyard (6 units for Aegean, 2 for Cyprus). Interest from abroad also was great, since the frigate was offered in very good price and with a variety of armament. Finally, 4+2 ships exported to Argentina and 8 with different armament and electronis to India. Final variant was the Christophis Class OPV (or 680 Class) for Hellenic Coast Guard, built in two batches until 1992. Additional 2 units built under lisense in Cyprus in mid 1980's.

This AU is going nicely.

I forgot to mention that Black Sea Navy Command has only 2 Messimvria Class frigates in service now (F446&F447). Rest 2 ships were given to Equador after a rebuilt, together with 2 of Conon Mk2E (-B with the electronics from the decommisioned Cypriot Mk2B).

The original Messimvria Class AAW Frigate (FFG, Guided Missile Frigate for RHN, because of AA missiles) was built in 1973 to 1978 and were among the first ships equipped with Mk29 GMLS. They had the "Theodoridis Magazine", holding 16 RIM-7M missiles (plus 8 more in the launcher) and although they had a Raytheon SPS-39A 3D radar, GMLS was a modified Mk112 "ASROC" with six cells capable of launching SM-1 and only two for RUR-5 ASROC. Usual load were 12 SM-1 and 4 RUR-5. This curious solution, despite being not very efficient, was the best the Autonomous Territories Naval Fund could afford in 1970's. Electronics on board were based on Dutch Tromp Class (SEWACO I). The result was an AAW frigate somewhat equivalent with US Brooke. In early 1980's all units received 4 SSM Adis IIB (turbojet variant of MM39) and one E/O Lyncheus Mk2A, which was the first hellenic developed E/O sensor (the Mk1 was the test model and never entered service). The Lyncheus was quite heavy compared with other European equivalent sensors, but it was extremely reliable and had good performance-siginificant reasons for ECON Optics to develop it further).

After the end of Cold War, threat in Black Sea reduced and in 1994 two units were passed in reserve. Later in 2000 was decided to modernise 2 units to Salamis-M spec, which also has some AAW capability with SAM-26A/B missiles and SM-1MR (latter is limited to 60km due to STIR 180 directors).

The other pair was a modified variant of Salamis-M for Equador, without SM-1MR capability, designated Salamis-E (E for Export). Engines were rebuilt also and have now the powerplants of later Cyrenia/680 Class ships, giving 33+ kn top speed. Together Equador received several Bell Twin Huey helicopters, which were modified to AB-212A2 spec with torpedoes and ASM-26 anti-ship missiles. Latter is the hellenic equivalent to Sea Skua, developed to replace the AS-12 (of which retained the 28.5 kg warhead). All these helicopters (8 total) belonged to Hellenic Petroleum and were replaced with AH-139 from 2002-2003. First unit (F 07 Eloy Alfaro) delivered in April 2008 and second in January 2009. The Conon Mk2E were sold in 2004-2005.



Note 1: In 1980's AB-212 were occasionally used in Black Sea, so this is the reason of the AB-212 on F 446 above.

What's the difference between the two last posted vessels. There appear to be none as far as I can see, and the last one professes to be a modernization...

_________________
My Avatar:Петр Алексеевич Безобразов (Petr Alekseevich Bezobrazov), Вице-адмирал , царская ВМФ России(1845-1906) - I sign my drawings as Ari Saarinen

The upper has 3D SPS-39 radar, while the lower has the MARAC M311C, a hellenic evolution of the old LW-03 with electronics from early LW-08. Both Dutch radars were built under license in HLK. As for missiles, the Adis IIB had about 100km range, while later C/D variants reached 120 and 140km. The -A variant had the fixed wings of MM38 and 85km range.

Also, F 446 had the WM-27 for gun control and sole SAM channel for Sea Sparrow, while F 08 has twin STIR 180 and is much better in AAW, offering two SAM channels for medium area defense capability (45km range for SAM-26B).

Equador does has MM40 Exocet in real life and received also Adis II (both from RHN stock and new missiles).